What do Ireland’s county names mean?

Ever wonder what the Irish language county names we see on football jerseys and road signs actually mean?
Photo by: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ever wonder what the Irish language county names we see on football jerseys and road signs actually mean?

Ireland’s long history of native kingdoms, which were supplanted by assorted invaders (Vikings, Norse, English, golf-playing American tourists) has had a profound effect on the country’s place names. Check out these English translations of Irish county names, and be sure to check the illustrated map below.

Armagh / Ard Mhacha Ulster – Established c. 1584, the name means “Macha’s height.” Macha was a Celtic goddess said to have given birth to twins after racing a horse.

Carlow / Ceatharlach Leinster -- Established c. 1306, the name translates to “place of cattle.”

Cavan / An Cabhán Ulster – Established in 1584, the name translates to “the hollow.”

Clare / An Clár Munster -- Established in 1565, the name translates to “plain.” The county may have been named after the Norman de Clare family. Before 1565, Clare was known as Thomond, which means “North Munster.”

Kilkenny / Cill Chainnigh Leinster – Established c. 1200, it means “church of Cainnech,” and was named in honor of St. Cainnech, who converted the county to Christianity in 597.

Laois / Laois Leinster – Established in 1556, the name derives from Uí Laioghis, which means “people of Lugaid Laigne.” Lugaid was granted land in the area after driving invaders out of Munster. Hard to spell, but better than its original name, “Queen’s County,” which was in honor of “Bloody Mary” Tudor.

Leitrim / Liatroim Connacht – Established in 1565, the name means “gray ridge.”

Limerick / Luimneach Munster – Established c. 1200, the name means “bare spot.” The Viking name for the county was “Hlymrekr” which meant “mighty noise.”

Longford / An Longfort Leinster – Established in 1586, the name means “the port” or “the riverside fortification,” a reference to the Shannon River.

Louth / Lú Leinster – Established c. 1200, the county is named after the Irish god Lugh (now spelled Lugh).

Mayo / Maigh Eo Connacht – Established in 1565, the name means “plain of the yew.”

Meath / An Mhí Leinster – Established in 1297, the name means “the middle.” It was once the home of the High Kings of Ireland.

Monaghan / Muineachán Ulster – Established in 1585, the name has a few translations: “hilly land” or “bushy / hilly field.”

Offaly / Uíbh Fhailí Leinster – Established in 1556, it was originally named after the Gaelic territory of Ui Failghe. In 1556, “Bloody Mary” Tudor named this area “King’s County” after her husband, Philip of Spain. The name was changed back to Offaly after the creation of the Irish Free State.

Roscommon / Ros Comáin Connacht – Established c. 1292, the name means “Comán’s wood” and was named in honor of St. Comán, who founded the monastery of Roscommon in 550.

Sligo / Sligeach Connacht – Established in 1565, the name means “shelly place,” a reference to the river’s abundant supply of shellfish.

Tipperary / Tiobraid Árann Munster – Established in the 13th century, the name means “well of the Arra,” a reference to the river that runs through the county.

Tyrone / Tir Eoghain Ulster – Established in 1585, the name means “Land of Eoghan.” It’s a tribute to Eogan mac Néill, who founded the Kingdom of Ailech, which is present-day Tyrone.

Waterford / Port Láirge Munster – Established c. 1200, the name means “Larag’s port.” It was also known by the Norse term for “ram fjord.”

Westmeath / An Iamhí Leinster – Established in 1543, the name means “the west middle.”

Wexford / Loch Garman Leinster – Established c. 1200, the name comes from the Norse term for “fjord of the mud flats.”

Wicklow / Cill Mhantáin Leinster – Established in 1607, the Irish name translates to “Church of the Mantan.” “Mantan” means “toothless one,” and refers to a saint whose teeth were knocked out by irish pagans around the time of St. Patrick. The Norse name for this area meant “the meadow of the Vikings.”